Writing historical fiction requires hours and hours of research. After asking for new topics that would to extend the value of A Writer of History, Grant – a relatively new reader – suggested that I feature some of the blogs ‘evergreen’ posts on various topics. Today, I’ve assembled ten posts with different perspectives on the topic of research techniques.
Favourite Historical Research Resources – author K.M. Pohlkamp includes sources for slang, online etymology, word usage timeline, maps, and names among other tips.
Finding Authentic Voices – author Jeffrey Walker explores how to bring authenticity to voices from the past.
Exploring Actual Locations for Historical Fiction – author Tony Riches takes us for a behind-the-scenes look at the sites he has visited to inspire his writing and transport readers into the past.
Time Travel: the Work of Historical Fiction – a comprehensive list of elements to consider when doing your research. Everything from gossip of the day to international alliances.
Beware Your Written Sources – Emma Darwin, author of several highly successful novels, offers an excerpt from her book Writing Historical Fiction.
The Art of Esoterica – or Historical Fiction Research – this post looks at the early research that’s involved when you’re beginning a new novel.
Your Grandmother is Lying (and Other Lessons from Historical Research) – professional researcher and author Leah Klocek gives some excellent guidance in parts one and two of this post.
In The Serendipity of Research, a real-life example of how research can affect a novel’s path.
In Researching Outside the Box, Jessica Brockmole, author of Letters From Skye, shares her perspective on how to paint a vivid overlay of history onto the fictional world of a story by becoming immersed in the words and pictures, sights and sounds of the era.
Writing an Era – Where to Begin – in this post Stephanie Carroll brings practical advice on five key research sources she used when writing A White Room.
Well, those posts should keep us all busy and inspired! My thanks to Grant for the idea.
FOR MORE ON READING & WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION FOLLOW A WRITER OF HISTORY
M.K. Tod writes historical fiction. Her latest novel is THE ADMIRAL’S WIFE, a dual timeline set in Hong Kong. Mary’s other novels, PARIS IN RUINS, TIME AND REGRET, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE and UNRAVELLED are available from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and iTunes. She can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads or on her website www.mktod.com.
One Response
Thanks for this fantastic resource, Mary!